Denise Dwyer D’Errico is a married, working mother of two young children, living in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies from St. Mary’s College of California, and a Master’s degree in Pastoral Ministries: Liturgical Music from Santa Clara University. She is the composer of “Be Still,” a liturgical choral piece published by the leading church music publisher GIA. “Be Still” has been recommended for performance for prayer services in memoriam of September 11th. Denise has over twenty years’ experience as a liturgical musician, as cantor, piano accompanist, and music director of adult choirs, children’s choirs, musicals and handbell choirs. She has also provided piano, vocal, and music theory instruction for children and adults. She has spoken to audiences on parenting and Autism Awareness. Denise has particular interest in illustrating harmony among seemingly unrelated subjects.

A good book is one I return to year after year, because it takes me to exotic, magical places and makes me both laugh and cry. The covers are worn with my revisiting, and they may disappear at times because I’ve forgotten which friend I’ve lent them to. Sometimes I keep multiple copies around, just in case.

2) When did you first start writing and what was the first thing that you wrote that you were proud of?

In college I wrote an essay comparing the gospel story to a fairy tale. It received honorable mention in a contest, which my younger sister won with her essay that kind of poked fun at me.

3) Please describe your work ethic as an author.

When I’m writing, I am working. Sometimes there is no watching tv in the evenings. I stopped watching a show that I liked after the second season. It is now the fifth season and I have not looked back. But sometimes I need to read, or work on promoting my book before I go back to hard writing.

4) How do you balance your work as an author with the other aspects of your life?

I bring a tablet everywhere, work, my kids’ soccer practice, dance rehearsal, drum lessons. Sometimes only those fleeting moments are all that I have.

5) Why did you write this book?

I recognized a pattern in my own life, and I thought describing it might help others in their own journeys.

6) What experiences from your past do you find yourself drawing upon repeatedly for inspiration in your work?

The times that I have felt the most vulnerable. If I can write about those times honestly, then people seem to relate. Their own circumstance may have been different, but honesty and vulnerability are two things that people understand.

7) What do you hope to accomplish in the next five years, both as an author and in your outside life? I have a novel inside me waiting to break forth. I think I will need another fact-finding trip to the island of Guam before it will all come together.

8) Since you are a storyteller, please tell one good lie about yourself.

I play acoustic guitar and the ukelele. My favorite thing to do is whip out the ukelele on public transit and start a sing-a-long. Only once have I been thrown off the BART train.